How can I check that I am using MSAHCI?

[Stewart1]

OK, now I have an updated X128, I want to be sure that the TRIM command is being passed. fsutil shows disabledeletenotify to be 0, so that is good. But other threads make it clear that I need to be using the MSAHCI driver. How do I establish that? I've looked at the Corsair in Device Manager and this is what I get:



None of those look like msahci.sys - or should I be looking somewhere else?

[RAM GUY]

There is a FAQ about that on Microsoft's site search for how to Check enable TRIM support in Windows 7 at www.microsoft.com/technet

[Stewart1]

Thanks RG. If you mean

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/200...rives-and.aspx

I have read it and I cannot see how to tell whether I am actually using the MSAHCI Driver.

edit: doubtless because Microsoft assumes that anyone reading that is going to be some sort of ubergeek, for whom such knowledge is a given. Alas not so in my case

[PrObE]

i was wondering the same thing and by using google and "common sence" i am quite confident that i have nailed down how to confirm the MSAHCI driver is active.

By looking at what to do if you are in IDE and want to go AHCI without re-installing you need to go to go into your registry and look-up:

HKey_local_machine/system/currentcontrolset/services/msahci

and set the "start" value to "0" to have it start at the next re-boot. From this i take it that the value (0) indicates that the MSAHCI driver starts and is "active".

Would be great if someone could confirm that this is the correct way to confirm this.

I have a value of (0) but suspect Trim is not "active" even though i was able to update the FW on my X128 so i would be very interested to know.

Cheers,

[Stewart1]

@PrObE

This is what my registry settings look like:



There is something called "start" which has a value of 3. What does that imply? Should I change it?

[RAM GUY]

There is an awesome Blog about SSD's in general on MSDN that is good reading to help understand the basics.

[Stewart1]

OK, thanks, and please bear with me here, because I am still a bit confused.

I am happy with being in IDE mode. But the implication o THIS, from the TRIM FAQ on this forum:

- Microsoft Storage Driver (MSAHCI / working for IDE and AHCI mode)

is that I need to go through the MSAHCI enabling, ie changing the "Start" value to 0, even to allow the TRIM command to be passed to the drive in IDE mode. Is that correct?

Thanks for your patience.

[RAM GUY]

You can check if TRIM is active with the steps I just posted. They (Microsoft) suggest AHCI mode as would I but It is solely up to the driver to pass the command no matter if its IDE or AHCI Mode, assuming of course that TRIM enabled Firmware is installed and you are using Windows 7 on a supported controller.

[Stewart1]

I think you are saying that I have to edit the registry to start the MSAHCI driver, even if all I want it to do is pass the TRIM command to the drive in IDE mode.

So that is what I will try.

edit: OK, I've done it. msahci.sys still does not appear as a driver when I inspect the drive using Device Manager, but perhaps that's looking at something else. If I understand everything correctly, having checked disabledeletenotify=0 and msahci start=0, there is nothing else I can do, other than wait and observe the performance of the drive.

[RAM GUY]

I think you are saying that I have to edit the registry to start the MSAHCI driver, even if all I want it to do is pass the TRIM command to the drive in IDE mode.

No I am suggesting that you check for TRIM support if it shows active then you should leave it alone unless of course you just want to use AHCI, then yes you have to edit the registry and enable it then reboot and enable it in BIOS.

So before you make that change you should make sure that you have that option in the BIOS and that you have the latest driver that support AHCI Mode.
Then you can go through the steps to enable it if you choose to.

edit: OK, I've done it. msahci.sys still does not appear as a driver when I inspect the drive using Device Manager, but perhaps that's looking at something else. If I understand everything correctly, having checked disabledeletenotify=0 and msahci start=0, there is nothing else I can do, other than wait and observe the performance of the drive.

Edit to the Edit
You should be set and AHCI is a mode not a Hard ware driver so you will not see a driver listed in device manager other than the Microsoft MSAHCI.SYS which loads as a service or driver as Windows boots.

[Stewart1]

I appreciate your patience Ram Guy.

So if you want to use TRIM in IDE mode, ALL YOU NEED TO DO is check that disabledeletenotify=0, is that right?

Despite this:

- Microsoft Storage Driver (MSAHCI / working for IDE and AHCI mode)

[oldbrave]

Look in the device manager under"IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
If you have the MSAHCI installed then there will be a entry
"Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial Controller"

[Stewart1]

Originally Posted by oldbrave

Look in the device manager under"IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
If you have the MSAHCI installed then there will be a entry
"Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial Controller"

I don't. What I have is "ATA Channel 0" (x5), "ATA Channel 1" (x5) and "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller" (x5).

But as I have said, I was not seeking to turn on AHCI, and have not changed the mode from IDE in the BIOS. All I want is to ensure that the TRIM commands are being passed to the SSD.

[Stewart1]

Update: I give up. Have gone into BIOS and enabled AHCI. "Standard AHCI 1.0 Serial Controller" now appears in Device Manager.